RIP Jake Wilson, the bulldog mayor of Haight Street (2000-2012)

This isn’t the way I intended to launch the blog version of The City Exposed, but when I learned that “The Mayor of Haight Street” had passed away, I felt that today’s blogpost should be about remembering my canine friend, Jake.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Jake, an 11-year-old English bulldog, has been coming to work every day at Bladerunners Hair Studio since he was a puppy and now has been dubbed the "Mayor of Haight Street," by many of the local who are used to seeing him perched on the front mat of the salon. less

Jake, an 11-year-old English bulldog, has been coming to work every day at Bladerunners Hair Studio since he was a puppy and now has been dubbed the "Mayor of Haight Street," by many of the local who are used ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, rides to work with his owner David Wilson everyday to Bladerunners Hair Studio on Haight Street.

Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, rides to work with his owner David Wilson everyday to Bladerunners Hair Studio on Haight Street.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Jake, an 11-year-old English bulldog, check his post near the front door at Bladerunners Hair Studio. He has been dubbed the "Mayor of Haight Street," by many of the local who are used to seeing him perched on the front mat of the salon. less

Jake, an 11-year-old English bulldog, check his post near the front door at Bladerunners Hair Studio. He has been dubbed the "Mayor of Haight Street," by many of the local who are used to seeing him perched on ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Jake receives a hello pat on the head from a stylist at Bladerunners Hair Studio.

Jake receives a hello pat on the head from a stylist at Bladerunners Hair Studio.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Haight Street tourists stop to gaze at Jake the bulldog as he sits in his usual spot outside Bladerunners Hair Studio.

Haight Street tourists stop to gaze at Jake the bulldog as he sits in his usual spot outside Bladerunners Hair Studio.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Tired of the scene outside, Jake the bulldog nuzzles up to a regular custer at his master's hair salon on Haight Street.

Tired of the scene outside, Jake the bulldog nuzzles up to a regular custer at his master's hair salon on Haight Street.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Tired from hours of waiting in the front door of his master's salon, Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap near the window.

Tired from hours of waiting in the front door of his master's salon, Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap near the window.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap as his owner David Wilson works on a client's hair.

Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap as his owner David Wilson works on a client's hair.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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Tired from hours of waiting in the front door of his master's salon, Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap near the window.

Tired from hours of waiting in the front door of his master's salon, Jake, an 11-year-old English Bulldog, takes a nap near the window.

Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle

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As a reminder of the many lives he touched, a memorial for Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" rests in front of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

As a reminder of the many lives he touched, a memorial for Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" rests in front of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Mike Kepka / Mike Kepka

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As a reminder of the many lives he touched, a memorial for Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" is displayed in the window front of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

As a reminder of the many lives he touched, a memorial for Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" is displayed in the window front of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Mike Kepka / Mike Kepka

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A photograph of Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" from younger, happier days hangs in front window of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

A photograph of Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" from younger, happier days hangs in front window of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Mike Kepka / Mike Kepka

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A photograph of Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" from younger, happier days hangs in front window of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

A photograph of Jake "The Mayor of Haight Street" from younger, happier days hangs in front window of Blade Runners Hair Studio on Monday March 12, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Mike Kepka / Mike Kepka

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RIP Jake Wilson, the bulldog mayor of Haight Street (2000-2012)

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People loved Jake for who he was – a drooling droopy English bulldog who, like a gargoyle, enjoyed keeping watch outside Blade Runners Hair Studio.

His owner David Wilson brought him to work everyday and in exchange for love and kibble, he would entertained people who walked by, earning his honorary status as “The Mayor of Haight Street.”

I count myself lucky to have spent some quality time with Jake last September, when he was thesubject of my weeklyphoto column called “The City Exposed.” I’ll always remember the way Jake trotted to the front of the store, excited to go to “work” when his owner brought him in for the day. Jake was content to sit on the front mat with tongue handing out. He was a dog people couldn’t resist saying hello to.

Like too many wonderful parts of the city, Jake is no longer with us, his death last week has left an oversized vacancy at his curbside post.

But like so many San Francisco traditions, Jake is not wholly gone — immortalized in the film of countless tourists and now, as the fitting starting point for the City Exposed blog.

For more than five years I’ve been seeking out the City’s colorful characters and showcasing them with words, pictures and video. San Francisco is always evolving, and eternally surprising. And while somethings never change — for instance you’ll still be able to see your favorite photo column in pages of the Sunday Bay Area section of the Chronicle — it’s time for this project to evolve too. I hope this fresh home in the blogosphere will breathe new life into a project I that I have held close to my heart for some time now. Welcome.

If you knew Jake, please consider leaving a comment here in his memory. Or feel free to share another memory of someone, or something, whose passing still leaves an impact of San Francisco.